The sport catch record system has gone significant reviews for at least 40 years. It is probably the best system possible, given how much money is available. Could it be better? Probably. At a significant increase in cost. You get what you pay for.

Another aspect is that we are all (rec, commercial, treaty) fishing to a number, regardless of the biological or ecological impact. The mindset is to get that number now. Caution and conservative management are not rewarded. If more fish show on the grounds or at the hatchery rack there is a cry "you should have given us more days, higher limits, etc.". Ultimately, we have created a system where each fish has the name of a harvester on it and they must be harvested.